Rutland has so much to offer

By Bill McCarthy

They say, whoever they are, that good things come in small packages. They also say less is more. In England’s smallest county, it prefers to go a bit more upmarket with its Latin motto, Multum in Parvo, or ‘ much in little’ in English.

Small it may be, but it is favoured by the likes of TV presenter Julia Bradbury, known for her work on BBC’s Countryfile and who has travelled across the UK and many parts of the world, who believes the county offers something for everyone.

It is known as The County of Good Taste due to the plethora or fantastic local producers and providers and, for lovers of the great outdoors, Rutland Water, one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe which serves the area as a reservoir.

 Rutland Water also offers leisure pursuits including watersports, cycling, fishing and bird watching, while Rutland’s many attractive villages are home to picture postcard cottages, traditional country pubs and a host of different kinds of accommodation, from camping to swish hotels.

Whatever you put on your waistline, you can soon walk it off, cycle it off, run it off, as there is a lot of countryside to go through where social distancing is effortless.

Bordered as it is by the four counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, it does offer a unique spread of places to visit, including quaint market towns, including the county town of Oakham, plus excellent cuisine with an abundance of locally produced food and drink.

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Whatever you put on your waistline, you can soon walk it off, cycle it off, run it off, as there is a lot of countryside to go through where social distancing is effortless.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, head for the spectacular inland lake, a dominant feature in the tiny county.

If you feel the need for something more relaxing or cultural, you can visit quaint country pubs where you can spend time sampling the famous Rutland Ale while the county also boats its own Rutland gin. Alternatively, try tasting specialist local delicacies include the award-winning Hambleton bakery a regional baker specialist in arstisan breads and pastries.

The Grainstore Brewery has a large variety of beers, ales and ciders, brewed right in the heart of Oakham, while Multum Gin Parvo produce a range of gin flavours inspired by Rutland, including ‘Strawberry & Rutland Lavender’ and ‘Earl Grey & Rutland Honey’. 

Outdoor sports are extremely well catered for with plenty of walking and cycling routes available, plus fishing, golfing and the huge choice of watersports that take place on Rutland Water.

There are two nature reserves around the reservoir, with many hides providing a great opportunity to spot a rare bird to two – or you can visit one of the many stunning gardens open to the public. Treat yourself to a trip to the beautiful Barnsdale Gardens – explore the gardens, take a gardening course and buy stunning plants to take home with you for a lovely reminder of happy memories in Rutland.

For those feeling like a hike, the 23-mile circuit is enough for anyone, but can be split up into a number smaller walks over a longer period of time. There are pay car parks at several points around the lake. Each one has a cafe and toilets and at least one had a children’s playground. Cycle and boat hire are available as an alternative Shanks’ Pony, but take binoculars to see some of the spectacular wildlife inhabitants.

If you prefer to stay indoors there are plenty of places for you to explore including theatres, art galleries and shopping in the two market towns that offer a huge variety of boutiques, farm shops and family run stores .

There is no end of accommodation across the county, catering for tourist from all parts of the world, but if your carbon footprint is important to you or the environment his high on your priorities, handily placed on the edge of Rutland Water itself in Whitwell Village is a novel state-of-the-art B&B accommodation.

The impressive Passivhuas in Whitwell has a modern luxury bathroom and stylish self contained double bedroom

A detached super insulated house designed to the carbon neutral Passivhaus Standard, it offers a self-contained, wheelchair friendly double bedroom with shower room and entrance separate from that of the main house. Parking is provided as is tea and tea and coffee. The hosts offer continental breakfast croissants, butter, jams and that hambleton’s bread, toaster plus fridge in the room downstairs.

The whole property, constructed in 2014, is a certified Passivhaus that it is super insulated and air tight with mechanical ventilation heat recovery.

While it may seem in the middle of nowhere, that is not the case, with Rutland Water literally over the road and with the county town of Oakham just over four miles away with short drive or take the public bus, which stops almost directly outside the property. The hosts are also happy to give an introduction to designing and constructing to the Passivhaus Standard.

For nature lovers, just across the road, the giant reservoir has other attractions. It is a 1,555 hectare area of lake and shore is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds and Nature Conservation Review site.

If the physical activities around the lake leave you needing to relax, a cruise aboard the Rutland Belle allows you to enjoy the sights of Rutland Water whilst having a relaxing drink and listening to commentary highlighting points of interest.
The Rutland Belle can carry up to 110 passengers, with 60 places in the under-cover saloons and is open from April to October. Drinks are available on board.

Alternatively, if you fancy a carefree day out with the kids where super-soaking immersive experience is promised, try Aqua Park Rutland – the UK’s biggest inflatable watersports challenge operating at Rutland Water.

So much, packed into so little, the tiny county deserves it Latin motto.

For information on the Passivhaus visit https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/37854877?source_impression_id=p3_1609228115_pM5A984SAI2FhRN9&guests=1&adults=1

For more information on where to go and what to see visit https://www.discover-rutland.co.uk

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Sutton Coldfield 10,000 step challenge

PEOPLE in Sutton Coldfield are being challenged to kick start the New Year by taking steps to support Cancer Research UK.  

The charity is urging people to sign up now to Walk All Over Cancer and get sponsored to take 10,000 steps every day for a month.

By raising vital funds, people across the region could help to get life-saving research back on track after the impact of COVID-19 – while burning off any excess Christmas calories. As well as helping towards a healthy body weight, taking part could take a little weight off the mind too. Regular walking is a great stress-reliever and can help with mental wellbeing by improving mood and sleep.

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the West Midlands, said: “Fundraising has fallen and right now, future research is at risk – that’s why we’re urging as many people as possible to make ‘Walk All Over Cancer’ their New Year’s resolution.

“We all hope that 2021 has a more positive outlook. So why not give yourself a boost by committing to get more active and having an achievable goal to aim for – all in aid of a good cause. 

“There’s plenty of time for supporters to start building up to the challenge in March and planning new ways to fit in some extra steps.

“Sticking to a resolution can be hard, especially through the cold, dark winter months, but registering now and making a public pledge to take part in the Spring, could help people steel their resolve. Plus, there’s the ultimate motivation of knowing every step you take will be helping to save lives.”

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Based on the average person’s strides, 10,000 steps is equal to about five miles, so by the end of March participants will have clocked up more than 150 miles.

That’s quite a challenge for some, but adopting small changes that you can stick to can really add up – whether it’s doing conference calls on the go, exploring local beauty spots or treating the dog to a month of extra-long walks. 

Keeping check on the number of steps taken each day is a great way to create a sense of achievement and it’s easy to do with smartphone apps, pedometers and wearable activity trackers available to help. Walk All Over Cancer is now integrated with FitBit, so that participants can automatically publish their step count on their fundraising page throughout the month.

Paula added: “With around 32,100 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the West Midlands region, we’re working every day to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

“The truth is COVID-19 has slowed us down, but we will never stop striving to create better treatments for tomorrow. Every step our scientists take towards beating cancer relies on our supporters. That’s why we need everyone to step up to Walk All Over Cancer.” 

Before the outbreak, Cancer Research UK was able to spend over £10 million in the West Midlands last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

To sign up and receive a free fundraising pack, with tips and ideas to help with the challenge, visit cruk.org/walkallover.

About Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
• Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Drivers in Sutton can be forgiven being afraid of ‘ghosts’, particularly on traffic islands, where confusion often reigns and danger can lurk.

When white road markings are removed, for example when road layouts change, the original lines can sometimes still appear as faint or ‘ghost’ markings, particularly in bright sunshine.

This can make the road ahead unclear for drivers. But, as this new footage shows, huge progress is being made in a trial on the M5 in the South West to eradicate the problem.

Last year Highways England launched a £685,000 international research project to find a solution to issues around the removal of white lines and of ‘ghost markings’.

The competition set out to identify the most effective road markings that will also reduce damage to the surface when the lines are removed.

Seven new products are being tested to check their skid resistance and performance in the dry and wet as well as five systems for removing white lines to see if they are more effective.

Head of Lean and continuous improvement Martin Bolt, who has been overseeing the competition for Highways England, said:

The trial will continue until April but the results so far have been very promising and the safety benefits are already clear. We are very optimistic that we have identified some effective solutions to a worldwide problem.

We know that people find the ghost lines confusing but these new methods could make this issue disappear, creating safer journeys for drivers. They will also prevent damage to the road surface saving time and money.

We have certainly gaining a greater insight into the materials and processes we, and the road industry, could be using in future schemes.

One approach used in the trial has been to apply a black baseline first before adding the white line. This also fills in some of the voids in the road preventing the marking penetrating too deeply into the surface.

Another advantage is that it provides greater contrast between the marking and the road itself which will be increasingly important as autonomous vehicles are introduced.

Products from around the world were submitted for the competition. At a testing centre in the Spanish capital Madrid, the markings were then subjected to some two million ‘wheel overs’ to find the top products for skid resistance and performance.

The best seven were then also put to the test on the northbound carriageway of the M5, between junctions 20 (Clevedon, Nailsea) and 18 (Avonmouth).

Once testing is complete, the most successful products will be highlighted in research shared around the world and setting new high standards for the road industry.

The competition, launched in conjunction with Roadcare and Kier, was funded through Highways England’s Designated Fund for Innovation.

Keith Dawson, managing director of Roadcare, said:

It is refreshing to see such collaboration across a wide range of countries, All competitors should be congratulated for the attitude they have shown throughout this competition in sharing knowledge and best practice, from which we have gained an enormous amount of data based on facts not opinions.

Tom Tideswell, head of innovations at Kier Highways, said:

Ghost markings are confusing to road users which can lead to poor lane discipline through no fault of their own and, in worst case scenarios, cause incidents to occur.

During the trials, the five innovative road markings removal systems demonstrated their capabilities and have since provided very positive results which could lead to eradicating this issue and create safer journeys for road users.

They will also reduce the scarring/pothole creation by being less intrusive to the carriageway which in turn improves journey reliability by reducing the amount of closures required to carry out repairs in addition to saving money.

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Diggers and bulldozers have converged on a former industrial site as work has finally got under way on the new Lidl store being built in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield.

The former contaminated Lucas factory site on Mere Green Road, has been an eyesore for many years, following the factory demolition and the time needed to get rid of the contamination at the site.

This two-acre site is now being developed despite some local objections and plans being sent back to the drawing board during the planning process, before finally being approved. One local councillor described the original Lidl design as looking like a brown and white shed.

It will include the store and a number of parking spaces, finally opening up a site that has been blocked off with blue boarding for more than 10 years.

It offers a budget alternative to the giant Sainsbury’s store opposite, but is sure to create extra traffic and congestion in the busy Mere Green area. However there will be new jobs and a likely boost to the local economy with increased footfall.

The development could be the final piece in the jigsaw in the renaissance of Mere Green. The area been blighted for years with rows of boarded up shops, but that finally gave way to the Mulberry Walk development. Anchored by the Marks & Spencer food hall, the new shops and a number of smart bars, restaurants, coffee shops and a gym, complement the existing shops on Lichfield Road.

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Now groundworks are under way despite dozens of letters of objection received from residents raising a number of concerns including traffic levels and pollution fears.

Four Oaks ward councillor Maureen Cornish was less than impressed with the original plans but now backs the new development.

She said: “The new Lidl development was scrutinised in depth by planning officers and committee, it covers all legal requirements. It’s never possible to  please all, however this site was derelict for a number of years and desperately needed to be developed.

“Lidl will provide versatile shopping giving the public more choice, it will increase the footfall and competition between similar stores provides shoppers.”

She added: “Lidl provides reasonable parking for shopping only with a limited time for doing so. This is required to prevent those that park but then walk to the train station, which is unacceptable. Highways will monitor area if congestion becomes a problem but are comfortable with the existing arrangements.”

The firm behind Britain’s controversial high speed rail system, HS2 Ltd, hosted a four day event which it says highlighted business opportunities across the region.

The huge rail link which cuts a swathe across the Midlands on its way from London during Phase 1, skirts Sutton Coldfield as it makes its way through Birmingham, running close to Bassetts Pole and Whittington near Lichfield.

HS2 Ltd hosted the event showcasing £12bn worth of contract opportunities that businesses from across the UK can find out how to prepare and start bidding for.

Despite being billions over budget and beset with delays, the firm says the event gave businesses, across hundreds of sectors, a crucial insight into how they can become part of HS2’s rapidly growing supply chain, which already includes over 2,000 businesses.

Many of the HS2 critics are environmental groups which claim the project could increase carbon emissions and cause huge damage to natural habitats, including dozens of ancient woodlands. They claim that constructing the railway lines through these areas could also threaten the survival of certain species

The four-day programme was delivered in partnership with HS2’s four main works construction partners (Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV)); Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, BAM Nutall (EKFB)); Align and Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS)) and two stations contractors (Balfour Beatty/VINCI/SYSTRA and Mace/Dragados), who between them will unlock thousands of individual work packages which range in size and value between £5,000 and £200m.

The agenda for the first three days consistsd of 24 opt-in webinars, delivered by over 60 presenters, which allow delegates to learn about the HS2 scheme, HS2 Ltd’s procurement processes and the programme of works its contractors are undertaking. Monday’s session begins with an introduction from HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP.

The final day presented the opportunity for over 1,000 potential suppliers to meet one-to-one with HS2’s construction partners, who are looking for new entrants into their supply chain to deliver their 2021/22 work packages.

The potential contracts represent a huge boost for British businesses seeking security and growth amidst the economic uncertainty arising from the Coronavirus pandemic.

HS2 Ltd has so far awarded 98 per cent of its current contracts to UK-based businesses; 70 per cent of which have gone to SMEs, and it aims to continue that positive trend through direct engagement with suppliers and local business during the Meet the Contractor event.

The £12bn boost reflects the scale of progress to date in delivering HS2’s Phase One programme between London and Birmingham, as work on the tunnels, viaducts and station foundations along the 140-mile route gathers pace.